Lincoln’s Life’: 1915 Thomas Edison film to be shown in Freeport

Jane Lethlean

Thursday

Aug 21, 2008 at 12:01 AMAug 21, 2008 at 8:23 PM

When the lights dim at the Lindo Theatre on Aug. 31 for the slowing of “The Life of Abraham Lincoln,” one member of the audience will be smiling with the satisfaction of knowing his mission was accomplished.

When the lights dim at the Lindo Theatre on Aug. 31 for the slowing of “The Life of Abraham Lincoln,” one member of the audience will be smiling with the satisfaction of knowing his mission was accomplished.

It was a project that was three years in the making for Gus Petrakis of Freeport. His dedication for finding the original 16 mm film was a cross-country search that took him from Highland Community College, to Brownsville, Texas, and finally to New York and San Francisco.
This is a film that was lost for decades and when Petrakis began his search, he was astounded to find out no one even had a copy of this film in the archives in Springfield that had so much of Lincoln’s life.

It took a viewing of an old picture in a collection called “Lost Freeport” that spurred the search for the film. In the original picture a young man is seen walking past a marquee in front of the Majestic Theatre that was showing the original film in Freeport in 1915.
“It was then I thought this movie should be found,” Petrakis said. “What I did not expect was how long a search it would be to track down this film.”

Petrakis began his search on the Internet and came up empty. He talked to Eric Welch, head librarian at Highland Community College, who was able to track down a copy of the film in Texas, which he rented for two weeks.

“Once I saw the black-and-white film, I knew it was exactly what I wanted,” Petrakis said.
The search began Aug. 1, 2003. Petrakis admits to having an obsession to find the original film and said he felt a copy of this film belonged to the people of Freeport, who have a part of the rich history of the life of Abraham Lincoln.

The Search

There is a plaque on the wall of the home of Petrakis that reads, “A Man’s work is nothing, but this slow trek to rediscover through detours of art.” Petrakis accepted no detours in his search for the film.

The original film was commissioned with Thomas A. Edison by the State of Illinois to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination.

The film shows Lincoln on his wedding day with Mary Todd, his first term in Congress, helping a neighbor and – with books in hand – pushing a stroller.

It also follows Lincoln from the famous debate with Stephen A. Douglas to his eventual presidency, the Emancipation Proclamation and the fateful day at Ford’s Theatre.
Petrakis refused to meet with failure with his mission – it made him dig in further and finally the day came when a company in New York was able to locate the film in San Francisco. He bought the film.

When Petrakis received the 16 mm film, his dilemma was finding a way to view it. Enter Dexter Witt from Radex in Freeport, who was able to record the film onto DVD format. Petrakis had five copies of the film made and he donated one to the Lincoln Library in Springfield.
“What really surprises me is this library never had a copy of the film before,” Petrakis said.

Sesquicentennial Celebration

The upcoming celebration of the Lincoln-Douglas Sesquicentennial will include the showing of this film. Petrakis will introduce the film, which will be shown prior to the 1939 classic “Young Mr. Lincoln,” directed by legendary director John Ford and starring Henry Fonda.
The historic silent film, found by Petrakis will be shown at 6 p.m. on Aug. 31. Petrakis will talk about the historic importance of the film.

“I’ll introduce the film and its historical value and I have to admit when I was told it would be shown to the people of Freeport, I have to admit a sense of accomplishment over the whole thing,” Petrakis said. “The day I received the film was Sept. 21, 2006, and I got the DVD’s made the following April — mission accomplished.

“I just hope the people of Freeport are curious enough about wanting to see something so historical, and I am honored to have given something in the name of Lincoln,” Petrakis said.

‘The Life of Abraham Lincoln’

What: Due to the perseverance by Gus Petrakis, Freeport residents will have a chance to view this rare film on the life of Abraham Lincoln.
When: Aug. 31
Where: Lindo Theatre in Freeport
Time: 6 p.m.
For More: This 15-minute silent film was made by Thomas A. Edison in 1915 and was originally shown at the Majestic Theatre.

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